Social Media and Indian Youth

📖 The Scoop

Preface

Social networking sites (SNS’s) have become imperative to the

lives of youth today. They are a compulsive and addictive behavior

to our modern adolescence. Facebook, twitter, orkut, linkedin and

other networking sites have not only given them a platform to

interact, discuss and remain in touch with their loved ones who

live at places across the globe but also to voice their opinions on

social issues. It has created nothing less than a revolution across

the world. The recent Jan Lokpal Bill Movement led by Anna

Hajare and his team, and Nirbhaya Gang Rape case movement are

uprising examples of SNS’s where youths created mass awareness

across the society. They not only participated to create a movement

but also voiced their opinions through the various social networking

sites mobilizing people to sign online petitions, sending them across

to the respective authorities. It was an eye opening example for

any country and the government to understand the power of Social

networking sites.

The SNS’s have made a significant change in their personal

and social lives, and played a crucial role in breaking boundaries,

crossing nations, enabling them to communicate and share their

view on issues like violation of human rights, girl’s education,

10 • Social Media and Indian Youth

adverse effects of global warming, wrong deeds of political leaders,

crime against women, corruption etc.

On one hand where social networking sites empower the youth

and enable them to grow up to their social circle in terms of their

own acquaintances, on the other it raises many questions about

their life styles, safety, privacy and legal issues. The study is an

attempt to understand the impact of these networking sites on the

life styles of Indian youths and also to form opinion about their

thoughts, sociological and psychological change in their Behavior.

There is no doubt Social media industry in India is run by

young and educated youths in big cities and town. According to

Analysis and Outlook Social Media in India 2011 and 2012, Indian

SNS market saw a tremendous growth in the rise of the number of

users and their participations and the amout of time spent. While

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in their report status

“there has been rapid rise in the number of internet users in India,

it has reached 21 million users in 2011. Broadband too has seen

significant growth in 2011with13.30 million users (22%, Youth

Organizations Umbrella, Inc. Y. O. U) compared to 10.92 million

users in 2010 and was expected to reach 15.9 million users by end

of 2012. 80% of the internet users are urban users and 20% are

rural users in India and educated young people. Indians migrate to

United States (US) for education and jobs and most of them will

be in constant touch with friends and families which led to the rise

in usage of social networks and it is further expected to increase as

US companies set up offices in India employing thousands of

people here. Apart from this more technology related products like

mobiles, laptops, other computing devices like PCs, tablets and

finally the voyeuristic appeal with open networks will drive the

usage further. Most popular social networking site in India is

Facebook as recently it dethroned Indonesia from the number two

slot with 46 million monthly active users in February 2012 on the

site, an increase of 132% from the prior year. Urban cities like

Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune,

Ahmedabad and other tier 1and 2 cities and towns dominate the

social networking usage in India. 75% is dominated by male and

mostly the young students and professionals in the age group of

18-24 are dominating the social media usage followed by the 25-

34 age group. They spend hours every month on the various social

networking sites and actively engage with friends and others. Most

of the users are using social media to stay in touch with friends,

track and update their activities, social gaming, follow groups and

communities, discuss social, political cultural and entertainment

topics and also look for information about brands, products and

also provide their feedback.”

Apart from the significant conceptual, theoritical and related

aspects of SMS, the book presents a research analysis, gathering

data across Delhi and Mumbai City from 550 respondents exploring

the broad dimensions of the impact of social networking sites on

the Indian youths, changing mind sets and their life styles. Further

it also explores the potential possibilities for developing a

knowledge based society and enhancing the quality of life.

The book is of immense importance to the ones, who wants to

understand social media and its importance on Indian youths. It

will provide an insight to the students, educationists, researchers,

media planners, social media users and policy makers. The authors

trust that the book is an asset for all of us as we all are affected and

attached in some means to the next generation revolution of social

media.

Dr. Sanjay Singh Baghel

Genre: Young Adult Nonfiction / Media Studies (fancy, right?)